Virtual Field Trip
This is a project in which students create a virtual field trip to showcase what they learned at Moaning Caverns. This is a field trip my class takes in the fall each year. After students go on the field trip and document their discoveries with a digital camera, they will create their own virtual field trip to share with the world.

Below will be the files to download and view. This is a project that could be used for any field trip. Although my students will be working together in pairs or triads to produce their own movies, it could also be done as a whole class project. (total time about ten 30-40 minute sessions and a day long field trip)

Click here to go to a website to download the virtual road trip to Moaning Cavern.

This file will open up in Google Earth. If you don't have Google Earth on your computer the above link has page to download it for free.

Lesson Plan:

1. Introduce students to the project and upcoming field trip to Moaning Caverns. Use teacher created Google Earth file to take students on a trip of the actual travel path they'll be taking. Discuss the terrain and geographic features they observe. (session 1)

2. Show students an example of a virtual trip to Moaning Caverns (teacher created model) - assessment rubric will be shared with students and discussed using this example project. (session 1)

3. Discuss process of documenting and taking notes while on the field trip - form teams, digital cameras, notes, ideas, focus/plan (session 1)

4. Go on field trip.

5. Upon returning, download all pictures and/or video and place onto server or website for easy student access.

6. Students work in teams of 2 or 3 to plan their virtual trip. They will create a storyboard to show the purpose, main ideas, and images to be used in the presentation. This will be approved by teacher before students move on to the next step. (session 2)

7. Students will continue working in teams to create the text/audio to be used with the images in the presentation. They will type these on the computer and post for teacher/peer feedback when completed. (sessions 3 and 4)

9. Students will practice and record their audio from the text they wrote earlier using iMovie. (session 7)

10. Students will add the Comic Life images to fit the audio they recorded. They will also add titles, transitions, and credits. (session 8-9)

11. Students will self assess their projects using the rubric and then projects will be uploaded for peer feedback on class webpage (or Moodle) (session 10)

Example text for virtual field trip (pdf file - 13kb)

File virtual field trip project to upload.pdf (pdf file - 206kb)
This is the Virtual Field Trip lesson Plan

Virtual Field Trip rubric (xls file - 12kb)
This is an excel file that can be modified if desired to fit the needs of your grade level and field trip

File Moaning Cavern Virtual Trip - Mrs. Baucom.mov (mov file - 3,305kb)
This is an example for students to view prior to beginning the project

	.xls file: You need the Microsoft Excel Program or the free Excel Viewer 2003 to view this file type.
	.pdf: You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or higher) for PC or Macintosh to view this file type.
	mov file: This is a "movie" or multimedia file and can be opened with an multimedia player such as QuickTime. Download the free QuickTime Player for PC or Macintosh.